"With its clever, compelling vision of the future, deeply human characters, and delightfully unpredictable story, this novel is itself a recipe for contentment." —Kirkus *

“A savvy take on technology’s potential and its moral failings… Williams never allows satire to overtake her story’s moral center or its profoundly generous and humanistic heart, resulting in a sharp and moving novel." — Publishers Weekly

Pearl's job is to make people happy. Every day she provides customers with personalized recommendations for greater contentment. But how does one measure an emotion?

Meanwhile, there's Pearl's teenage son, Rhett. A sensitive kid who has forged an unconventional path through adolescence, Rhett seems to find greater contentment in being unhappy.

Told from an alternating cast of endearing characters, Tell the Machine Goodnight delivers a smartly moving and entertaining story about relationships and the ways that they can most surprise and define us. Along the way, Katie Williams playfully illuminates our national obsession with positive psychology, our reliance on quick fixes and technology. With warmth, humor, and a clever touch, Williams taps into our collective unease about the modern world and allows us see it a little more clearly.